Stranger follows senior to Oaks, causes scare
Campus Times
March 7, 1997
Senior Amy Levy, a chemistry major, said she was followed by a strange
man who tried to coerce her into his vehicle last Sunday afternoon.
Levy was in the library when she noticed a man watching her.
"At first I didn't think anything of it. When I left the library,
he got in his car and followed me," said Levy.
While she was walking back to the Oaks, the suspect pulled into a nearby
parking spot while honking his horn.
"When he pulled into the parking spot he said 'Hey, I think I know
you from somewhere. Why don't you get in the car and I'll give you a ride
home and we can figure out where we know each other from,'" said Levy.
The suspect persistently tried to get Levy into his car. At one point,
he opened his passenger side door for her to get in.
"I was far enough away that he couldn't grab me. I walked away
faster and he followed me. Then, I ran up the stairs into the Oaks and made
sure all the doors were locked. I called Campus Safety right away,"
said Levy.
John Lentz, director of public safety and transportation, said, "We
need to have the La Verne PD notified. In a situation where students have
concern of someone following them, they should call for escort services."
The suspect was driving a late-model Toyota Camry and, according to
Levy, is in his thirties with graying brown hair.
"We had a description of the car, but not a license plate. According
to the report, he was not forceful," said Lentz.
"Campus Safety came out right away and took a report. They went
to the library to try and identify him. They said there's not much they
can do. They are going to keep their eye out," said Levy.
"This seems to be one of the first of these things to occur. If
it happens again, we will set up meetings in the residence halls and invite
students to come together and talk about what to do and what actions to
take," said Lentz. "The first thing to do is get a good description
of the vehicle and a license plate number. That way we can contact the person
and discourage them from doing it in the future."
"It was scary. People make fun of me because I drive to school
from the Oaks. The one day I walked to school, this happened. Don't think
I'm walking anymore," said Levy.